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As Calls For Intervention Escalate, De Blasio Says He Will Visit Rikers For First Time Since 2017
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Sep 24, 2021
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Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Sep 24, 2021
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Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday said he plans to visit Rikers Island, following mounting pressure from lawmakers who say that a humanitarian crisis at the jail complex has spun out of control and requires immediate federal intervention. He has not visited the notorious jail complex since 2017.
De Blasio announced his intention to tour the facility during his weekly radio appearance with WNYC's Brian Lehrer. He did not provide a specific date but said he would be accompanied by First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan and the Department of Corrections Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi.
"I think it's time because we've been able to address a number of issues and I want to see if these solutions are working, or whatever other things we have to do," he said.
His decision comes hours after it was reported that a group of congressional Democrats led by Representative Ritchie Torres wrote a letter to President Biden asking him to provide the city with federal funding to address the problems. The prior day, a federal monitor recommended an outside security manager, describing the situation at Rikers as "pervasive disorder and chaos."
Staffing shortages have contributed to crowded conditions, insufficient food and water, and a rise in coronavirus cases for roughly 5,000 detainees. As of this year, 11 Rikers detainees have died, five by suicide, part of a disturbing pattern of self-harm incidents reported by Gothamist earlier this month.
In recent weeks, elected officials and criminal justice advocates have repeatedly demanded that the mayor witness the disturbing conditions with his own eyes. Prior to Friday, de Blasio had repeatedly put off a visit, arguing that he was focusing his efforts on alleviating the situation through new policies.
Less than an hour before his appearance on WNYC, Eric Adams, the Brooklyn Borough president and Democratic mayoral nominee, joined those who have said the mayor needs to visit Rikers as he and many other elected officials have already done.
"He should walk through with his chancellor to see what a failing education produces," Adams said during an event in Coney Island. "He should bring all of his top commissioners and deputy mayors to walk through and say look what failed policies have produced in our cities."
Speaking to Lehrer, de Blasio defended his approach. "What I've spent a lot of time on this last week or two is fixing problems, one after another, " he said. "I have been to an immense number of meetings and calls and work with the state to get these issues fixed."
Last Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul enabled the release of nearly 200 detainees through the signing of the Less is More legislation that ends re-incarcerating individuals on technical parole violations. On Monday, Mayor de Blasio said 161 of those Rikers detainees had been released. Around another 200 were slated to be transferred to state prisons.
The mayor, who has blamed the crisis on chronic absenteeism by correctional staff and a slow-moving court system, said the city is taking steps to shorten the intake process for detainees to less than 24 hours. He has also promised to eliminate triple shifts for correction officers by next month.
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Rikers Island
mayor bill de blasio
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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